Mega Channel

Mega Channel
The Mega Channel logo since 1999
Launched	20 November 1989
Owned by	Teletypos S.A.
Picture format	576i (PAL)
Audience share	18.9% (21/9/09-27/9/09, [1])
Country	Greece
Website	www.megatv.com
Availability
Terrestrial
PAL	LCN 04
DVB-T	LCN 04, DIGEA 1 multiplex.
Satellite
NOVA Greece	Channel 105
Hotbird 6	Channel 319
Hotbird 8	Channel 319
Hotbird 9	Channel 319

Mega Channel, also known as Mega TV or just Mega, is a television network in Greece. It was the first private television station in Greece, launched on November 20, 1989. It is owned by Teletypos S.A.. Mega's programming consists mainly of Greek programmes such as comedies, dramas, news, current affairs and entertainment shows. In recent years, Mega Channel has overtaken its main rival ANT1 as the most popular channel in Greece, largely due to hit shows like Sto Para Pente, Oi Aparadektoi, Anastasia and Emeis ki emeis^{[citation needed]}.

Logo and Copyrights

From 2005, many clips aired, all with the slogan "Megalicious". In 2005-2007 were in-studio and from 2007 are live action. The previous Mega channel logo consisted of the text 'MEGA', with 'ME' widened to the left and 'GA' widened to the right. "Meg" and "Ega" (a computer-generated imagery cat and a dog respectively) which appear frequently in the TV station's idents, especially at Christmas, Easter or summer, can be considered the mascots of the station. The old Mega Channel logo consisted of 10 or 12 multicolored lines, with MEGA in the middle and sometimes channel located at the bottom. The colors started from yellow, golden yellow, gold, mandarin, slightly orange (on either side), orange-rose, orange-pink, rose and pink. ^[1]

Slogans

• 2000/2001 season: Ραντεβού στο Mega (Rendezvous on Mega)
• 2001/2002 season: Ραντεβού στο Mega (Rendezvous on Mega)
• 2002/2003 season: Meg & Ega
• 2003/2004 season: Για να δούμε (Let's see!)
• 2004/2005 season: I love TV
• 2005/2006 season: Megalicious (Mega+delicius)
• 2006/2007 season: Αυτό είναι Megalicius (This is Megalicius)
• 2007/2008 season: Θα πεις Megalicius (You will say Megalicius)
• 2008/2009 season: Megalicious (Mega+delicius)
• 2009/2010 season: Tο Mega είναι 20 (Mega is 20)

Broadcasts and agreements with foreign companies

The station is located on Mesogeion Avenue in Athens. Up until recently it was located in the town of Paeania, Attiki. It is broadcast on channels 7 and 25 in Athens. Signals can be received all over Greece and Cyprus and Mega Channel is also carried on digital cable systems and satellite systems. Until 2001, Mega Channel was the sole broadcaster of the Hanna-Barbera programs during which time it broadcast the Greek language versions of The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. The programs after the change are not included in this channel. Reruns still continue. Since 2000, Mega Channel has been broadcasting an international satellite service exclusively for Greek ex-patriates living in North America and Australia, Mega Cosmos.

Programming

Daytime

Weekdays

• 07:00-10:00 Koinonia Ora Mega. An info and current affairs magazine now in its fifth season, hosted by Dimitris Kambourakis and Giorgos Oikonomeas.
• 10:00-13:00 Omorfos kosmos to proi. A morning entertainment magazine in its seventh season. It is hosted by Nikos Papadakis, Maria Arabatzi, Doukissa Nomikou, Katerina Kainourgiou and Dimitris Ouggarezos.
• 13:15-14:00 Various Programming.
• 14:00-14:50 Mega News.
• 15:00-18:10 Various Programming.
• 18:10-19:00 I zoi tis allis.Soap opera.

Weekend

• 07:00-10:00 Mega Sabbatokyriako. A morning info magazine hosted by Iordanis Hasapopoulos and Manolis Anagnostakis.
• 10:00-10:20 Mommy. A magazine giving devices to the parents about their children. Hosted by Noni Dounia.
• 10:20-12:50 Various Programming.
• 12:50-14:00 Mega Star. A music magazine, in its 18th season hosted by Katerina Stikoudi.
• 14:00-14:50 Mega News.
• 14:50-16:50 Sunday Mega Cinema, movies.
• 15:45-18:00 Various programming, especially movies and television series in revision.
• 18:00-19:00 Glykes alximeies. A pastry show in its 2nd season, hosted by Stelios Parliaros and his team.

Prime time

Returning comedies are in red; new comedies are in pink; returning dramas are in green; new dramas are in blue; returning game shows are in orange; special programmes for 20 years Mega are in beige; news programming is in brown;documentaries are in chocolate.

Television Series

Current lineup

• 7 Θανάσιμες πεθερές (Seven Deadly Mother In Laws), popular comedy has been on the air for six seasons
• L.A.P.D., comedy / drama on its second season
• H Polykatoikia (The apartment building), very popular comedy in its second season
• Lakis o Glykoulis, comedy
• Ta Mystika Tis Edem, soap opera now in its second season; Airs Mondays - Fridays at 7pm.
• M&M,comedy
• 4,drama
• Mila mou vromika,comedy
• I Zoi tis allis,soap opera

Sports

Mega Channel broadcasts matches from UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup.

History

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• November 20, 1989: Mega Channel went to air and the first program was broadcast. It became one of the most popular channels.
• Late 1990s: Mega's website (megatv.com) was launched.
• Late 1990s: Mega became the sole broadcaster of the UEFA soccer matches and draws.
• 1999-2000: Mega Channel changes its logo and programming after ten years since the channel's first air date.
• 2000-2001: Mega Channel launches their international network in North America on channel 602 on Dish Network and in Australia.
• April or May 2001: Mega signs contract with its journalist to keep reporting, during a strike which affected other channels of broadcasting news bulletins on hold, for a couple of days. There have been several general strikes which caused Mega and other channels stopped broadcasting bulletins and other programming for one day^{[citation needed]}.
• September 2002: Mega introduces Meg and Ega (its mascots) to its network.
• November 26, 2003: Another journalist strike cripples the Mega News broadcasts.
• October 2004: The slogan changed to I Love TV, the love is in a form of the symbol as I♡TV.
• Late 2005: Mega Cosmos returns to Australia and Asia - Africa after a 5 year absence through UBI World TV.
• 2005-2007: Mega launched a sitcom called Sto Para Pente that would outmarch every other comedy show ever broadcast in Greece and would become one of the most popular shows in Greek television history. The show concluded at its second season.
• 2005/2006: Mega changed their slogan to "Megalicious".
• Late 2006: Mega Cosmos in the U.S. moves from Dish Network to rival DTH provider DirecTV.
• October 2007: Mega Cosmos returns to Canada after a 4 year absence through Ethnic Channels Group; its available on Rogers Cable & Bell TV.
• 2008: Mega Cosmos debuts in New Zealand via UBI World TV.
• 2008-2009: "Mega Gegonota", the news bulletin of the channel, tops AGB ratings leaving other broadcasts behind.

MEGA Cosmos

MEGA Cosmos logo

MEGA Cosmos is the international network of Mega Channel that broadcasts the 'best of Mega' programming to Greeks abroad in North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The channel first started broadcasting in 2000 but was taken off the air in Australia sometime later due to contractual problems. As of late 2005, MEGA Cosmos is now once again available in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Africa thanks to a new deal signed with UBI World TV, a satellite platform that broadcasts mainly foreign programming. On December 1, 2006 MEGA Cosmos moved from the Dish Network platform to DirecTV, in the United States. In October 2007, the channel began broadcasting in Canada through Ethnic Channels Group on Rogers Cable, Bell TV and NEXTV (IPTV provider).

See also

• MEGA Cosmos Canada
• Mega Channel Cyprus
• List of programs broadcast by Mega Channel
• List of Greek television channels

References

External links

• www.megatv.com (Greek)
• Mega Cosmos (Greek)